Frame for stretching skins



April 10, 1934.

VV.I& CEHBBES FRAME FOR STRETCHING SKINS Filed Oct. 10, 1930 PatentedApr. 1 0, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates toimprovements in frames for stretching skins, the object being to providea frame for stretching the skins of animals which may be readilyadjusted to fit any desired size of skin, and which will retain itscorrect form when the size is changed. Such devices are commonly knownas fur stretchers. Heretofore, it has been common practice to providedifferent sizes of stretchers for different sizes of skins. Thisinvention eliminates the necessity for providing a plurality ofstretchers, a single device being adaptable for use with skins ofdifferent sizes.

The general object of the invention is to provide a highly efficientdevice of the nature indicated above which is simple in construction andwhich can be manufactured commercially at low cost.

The above objects are accomplished by provid- 2o ing an adjustable frameadapted to receive animal skins, and which may be easily adjusted toaccommodate different sizes of skins, thereby eliminating the necessityfor providing several stretchers of different sizes as mentioned above.

' The device comprises essentially a point memrods and are capable ofbeing fastened thereto at any desired point. The correct form, viz., a

pointed top with sides flaring slightly toward the base, is alwaysmaintained by having the point rods properly curved.

The stretcher will be in its largest adjustment position when the siderods are fastened to the point rods at the end farthest away from thejoint of the point rods, and in its smallest adjustment position whenthe side rods are fastened to the point rods close to the joint. It willbe readily apparent that any size between the largest and smallest mayeasily be had. A novel feature of the device is that the portions of thepoint rod, not required in the small adjustment -position, remain withinthe frame and do not interfere with the outside form of the device. Thedevice is also capable of being lengthened indefinitely by extending theside rods in sections.

Another important feature of the device is the to' novel tail-fasteningor holding member, which can be easily assembled and requires no nuts,screws, or like fastening means.

The above and other features of the device, as Well as the details ofconstruction and assembly, will be more apparent hereinafter as thedescription proceeds. r

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the device of the invention in its extended orlargest adjustment position; and

Fig. 2 is a view showing the device in its contracted or smalladjustment position.

Referring to the views of the drawing, the device comprises a pointmember designated generally by reference character 1, which is formed ofa pair of curved rods 2 and 3. The curvature of these rods is perhapsmore clearly apparent from the showing of Fig. 2. The converging ends ofthese rods may be flattened as at 3 and 4, respectively, the flattenedportions being provided with openings for the reception of a rivet 5, orother pivotal attaching means. The purpose of this construction is, ofcourse, merely to provide the desired point member having arms which arerelatively movable about the point. Many mo diflcations to attain thedesired purpose are of course, possible and within the scope of theinvention.

A pair of side rods 6 and 7 are attached to point rods 2 and 3,respectively, by means of a pair of ferrules 8 and 9. The thus attachedends of these side rods are pointed as at 10 and 11. The side arms areslightly curved at their portions' adjacent the point rods. As willappear more clearly hereinafter, the point at which the side rods arefastened to the point rods may be varied to adjust the device. A baserod 12 extends transversely between the free ends of the side rods, andis attached to the side rods by means of a pair of spring clips 13 and14. These clips may be formed of a piece of spring wire which has itsends bent to extend under the side rods while its body portion passesover base rod 12. The ends 15 and 16 of the spring clips may completelyencircle the side rods, while the ends 17 and 18 of the clips may merelycomprise extended portions which pass under the side rods. By means ofthis construction, in assembling the device, the ends 15 and 16 of theclips may be placed over the ends of the side rods, the base rodpositioned underneath the clip, and the ends 17 and 18 of the clipssprung into position beneath the side rods.

Base rod 12 carries a tail-fastening or holding member 19, which maytake the form of an extended tab or tongue having one end bent so as toencircle the base rod. By means of this construction, this tab may beplaced in position upon the base rod by merely inserting the latterthrough the eyelet formed by the tab. A spring clip or fastener 20 isprovided on the tab to serve as means for holding the tail point of theskin firmly. This spring clip may take the form of a piece of springwire bent in the manner clearly shown on the drawing. The ends andcentral portion of the clip extend beneath tab 19, while theintermediate portions lie above the tab.

Assuming that the device is disassembled, to assemble it, the followingprocedure is followed. A ferrule is placed over the curved end of a siderod about two inches back from the end. One of the point rods is thenpassed through the ferrule to the point at which it is desired to holdthe two rods together, and they are clamped by pushing the ferruleahead. By pinching the two rods together slightly with a pair of pliers01 the like, the ferrule will readily bind the rods together so thatthey cannot come loose. In like manner, a second side rod is attached tothe other of the point rods. Then, the base rod is passed through theeyelet of the tail holder until the latter is in position at about themiddle of the base rod. The base rod is then fastened to the side rodsby means of the spring clips as previously explained.

To place a pelt or hide upon the structure, a nail may be driven into aboard, the pelt placed on the stretcher and the latter hooked over thenail. This holds the stretcher so that the hide can be pulled onto it.The hide may be stretched properly by properly adjusting the device, andthe tail point of the hide may be fastened by placing the S-shaped Wire20 over the tail and. springing the ends of the wire under the tailholder as indicated on the drawing. It will be apparent that when thedevice is once assembled, it may be readily adjusted by merely pushingthe rods of the point member through the ferrules. The device willalways maintain the proper shape to accommodate different sizes ofhides.

An important feature of the device is that the length thereof can beextended indefinitely by inserting any desired number of side rods.Assuming that it is desired to lengthen the device beyond the positionshown in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to use an additional pair orpairs of side rods and ferrules. Each ferrule is placed over the curvedend of the corresponding additional side rod and the straight end of oneof the side rods of the device is inserted in the ferrule, as previouslyexplained. A small wooden wedge may be inserted between the two siderods which are attached together, if desired, to make the ferrule pinchthem, and the ferrule may then be tightened. This procedure is, ofcourse, followed for each additional side rod. The structure can belengthened continuously in this manner and wood braces may be inserted,if desired, to keep it from springing in on the sides.

In connection with the adjustability of the device, it is important tonote that the tail holder may be reversed with relation to the base rod.It lengthens the stretcher when in one position and shortens it when inthe other. In this man ner, different sizes of skins may often beaccommodated without changing the adjustment of the device.

It will be apparent that I have provided a device which is simple inconstruction and which may be easily assembled and adjusted. Thespecific illustration and disclosure contained herein is not to be takenas limiting the invention in any way, it being understood that variouschanges and modifications within the scope of the appended claims may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A fur stretcher comprising sides, a base member extendingtransversely between said sides, and spring means for fastening saidmember to said sides, said means comprising a spring clip having one endhooked under a side, its body portion passed over said member, and itsother end snapped under said side.

2. In a fur stretcher, the combination of a pair of curved pivotallyattached point members, and a pair of side members, said side memberseach having only an end movably attached to the outside of said pointmembers and slidable therealong, whereby said side members are movablealong said point members throughout substantially the entire lengththereof, and the free end portions of said point members not required inadjustments of the stretcher for small furs lie within the stretcher anddo not interfere with its outside shape.

3. In a fur stretcher, pivotally connected point members, side members,connections between the terminals of said side members and the pointmembers constructed and arranged to move along said point memberssubstantially from end to end thereof and to direct the free terminalportions of the point members which lie beyond the connections of theside members from the pivotal connection inwardly of the outer faces ofthe side members.

WALTER A. GIBBS.

